Refrigeration systems



June 4, 1963 s. H. MORSE 3,

REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 EEG;

INVENTOR.

\STQA/ZK) H. M

June 4, 1963 s. H. MORSE 3,091,945

REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR/VA'VS J1me 1963 s. H. MORSE 3,091,945

REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 nil YINVENTOR.

J'Tfi/VAEY It MORSE A TI'OR/VFYS 3,091,945 Patented June 4, 1963 3Claims. (Cl. 62-299) This invention relates to refrigeration systems andparticularly to the mounting of shut-off valves on refrigeration units.

In refrigeration systems, it is customary to provide shut-oil valves atthe inlet or suction side and the outlet or pressure side of thecomponent units such as the compressor unit which may be closed when itis desired to isolate the unit for purposes of repair or replacement.These valves may also be used to facilitate charging the unit withrefrigerant and sealing the unit at the factory for shipment to thecustomer.

A conventional type construction comprises the use of a shutoff valvehaving a body which has a length several times its lateral dimensions.The body includes a chamber, a first passageway extending axially of thebody and providing communication between the chamber and the end of thebody and a second passageway formed by a projection extending laterallyof the body and providing communication between the chamber and theexterior of the body. A valve member is movable axially of the body inthe chamber to open and close the valve by control of the communicationbetween the passageways.

In use, the second passageway is connected to a first refrigerationunit. A conduit or tube is connected to the first passageway and leadsto another unit of the refrigeration system. The means for connectingthe second passageway to a refrigeration unit comprises a pad ofsubstantial thickness fixed on the projection and having a Hat surfacewhich is adapted to contact a complementary flat surface on therefrigeration unit. A gasket may be interposed between the surfaces andthe pad is drawn toward the refrigeration unit by bolts passing throughthe pad and threaded into the refrigeration unit.

A major disadvantage of such a construction is that when the shut-offvalve is mounted on the refrigeration unit the direction or angle inwhich the tube connected to the first passageway extends away from therefrigeration unit is fixed and cannot be adjusted. This raisesparticular problems when limitations in space surrounding therefrigeration unit or the position of the other refrigeration unit towhich the tube extends require that the tube extend in a differentdirection. To overcome this disadvantage, shut-off valves have beenmanufactured wherein the pad is in different angular positions relativeto the valve body. This necessitates keeping a large number of valves ofdifferent types in stock. In addition, a manufacturer of a refrigerationunit may install a particular valve which may provide for the tubingfrom the first passageway to extend in the proper direction for spacerequirements in the refrigeration unit, nevertheless when the consumerreceives the unit he may find that the tubing should extend in anotherdirection in order to make the proper connection to an adjacentrefrigeration unit. This necessitates removing one valve and replacingit with another having a pad forming a different angle with the valvebody. Such a replacement results in the loss of the refrigerant chargewhich may have been placed in the refrigeration unit at the factory andnecessitates the purging of air from the refrigeration unit. Theseadditional steps are obviously costly and time consuming.

A further disadvantage of using the conventional pad type shut-oil valveis that in order to provide a tight seal between the sealing surface onthe pad and the complementary surface of the refrigeration unit, a largeforce is required and it is necessary to have a very thick heavy pad.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a refrigerationsystem wherein the shut-0E valve may be positioned in a plurality ofangular relationships relative to the refrigeration unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a systemwherein there is an improved sealing connection between the valve andthe refrigeration unit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a refrigerationsystem which utilizes a high unit pressure sealing ring or rib betweenthe shut-oil valve and the refrigeration unit so that a seal is providedalong a thin annular area as distinguished from a large flat surfacearea thereby permitting the use of a relatively thin pad or valvecontacting surface.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a refrigerationsystem which has novel sealing means between the shut-elf valve and therefrigeration unit, which means can be loosened to permit angularadjustment between the valve and the refrigeration unit without loss ofrefrigerant.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a refrigerationsystem wherein novel sealing means is provided between the shut-01fvalve and the refrigeration unit, the sealing means being such that whenit is loosened an effective seal is maintained which prevents leakage ofrefrigerant and at the same time permits relative angular adjustmentbetween the shut-off valve and the refrigeration unit so that theangular position of the valve relative to the unit may be adjustedwithout loss of refrigerant.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a refrigerationsystem which has novel sealing means including a high pressure rib and aplastic ring between the shutoff valve and the refrigeration unit, thesealing means being particularly adapted to provide a finger tight sealand such that when loosened an effective seal is maintained between thevalve and the refrigeration unit which prevents leakage of refrigerantand at the same time permits relative angular adjustment between a valveand a refrigeration unit, said seal being such that it maintains therelative angular position of the valve and the refrigeration unit duringthe final locking of the valve to the refrigeration unit. Thisapplication is a divisional application of my co-pending applicationSerial No. 832,883, filed August 5, 1959, now abandoned, which in turnis a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No.648,305, filed March 25, 1957, now abandoned.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic elevation of a refrigeration systemembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, on an enlargedscale.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modified form of theinvention FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of theinvention shown in FIG. 6 showing the parts in a different relativeposition.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the refrigeration system includes aplurality of shut-oil valves 10 which may be mounted on variouscomponents of the system such as compressor 45 in order to provide ameans for opening and closing and thereby controlling communicationbetween the units. Specifically referring to FIG. 1, a pair of off-setvalves are mounted on compressor 45 for controlling connections to line61 extending to evaporator 60 and to line 62 extending to receiver 63.Similarly, a shut-off valve is provided for controlling flow in line 64which extends to the evaporator 60. As shown, the refrigeration systemincludes the conventional condenser 65 and fan 66.

As shown in FIG. 3, valve 10 comprises a body 13 which has a lengthseveral times its lateral or cross sectional dimensions. Body 13includes a longitudinally extending chamber 14 which communicates with apassageway 15 extending longitudinally of valve body 13 and providingcommunication to the exterior of the valve body. A second passageway 16formed by a projection 17 extends laterally from the end of chamber 14to the exterior of the valve body. The walls of chamber 14 are formedwith shoulders 18, 19 which provide sealing surfaces for a valve member20' threaded in the other end of valve body 13 and rotatable relativethereto, thereby movin'g longitudinally of said valve body.

The end of the valve member 20 adjacent sealing surface 18 is providedwith an inverted frusto-conical sealing surface 21 which is adapted toengage shoulder 18 and a frusto-conical sealing surface 22longitudinally spaced from surface 21 which is adapted to contactshoulder 19. To prevent the escape of refrigerant through the threadedconnection of valve member 20 to valve body 13, a copper washer 23 isprovided in a depression 24 in the end of valve body 13 and packingmaterial 25 is positioned over the washer 23. A nut 26 preferably ofcopper surrounds the upper end of valve member 20 and is threaded intothe cavity.

The end of valve member 20 which extends to the exterior of valve body13 is provided with a non-circular shape to facilitate its being graspedby pliers or other suitable tools so that the valve member 20 may beeasily rotated. A cap 27 is threaded onto the exterior of the upper endof valve body 13 to protect the upper end of valve member 20. To furtherinsure a seal, a metal Washer 280, preferably of copper, is pressed incap 27 adjacent the upper end of the valve body 13 and abutting ashoulder 28 on the cap.

As shown in FIG. 4, fitment 17 of the valve is provided with aperipheral flange 41 and a collar 42 is rotatably mounted on theprojection. Collar 42 has an inwardly extending flange 43 and acylindrical body 44 with a hexagonal external configuration extendingaxially away from the valve body 13. The axial movement of a the collar42 away from valve body 13 is limited by engagement of flange 43 oncollar 42 with flange 41 on projection 17. Refrigeration unit 45 isprovided with a fitment 46 forming a passageway 47 communicating withthe inlet or outlet as the case may be of the refrigeration unit.Fitment 46 is mounted on refrigeration unit 45 in fixed sealingrelationship thereto in any suitable manner such as by hydrogen brazing.The end of fitment 46 is formed with threads 48 and the inner surface ofcylindrical body 44 of collar 42 is formed with complementary threads49.

The end of projection 17 is formed with an annular sealing surface 50extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of projection17. The end of fitment 46 is formed with a complementary sealing surface51. Sealing surface 50 is formed with an annular groove 52 immediatelyadjacent but spaced from the opening in projection 46 and sealingsurface 51 is formed with a complementary rib 53. A washer 54 made ofmalleable material, preferably copper, is interposed between the sealingsurfaces 50 and 51.

When collar 42 is threaded on fitment 46, flange 43 engages flange 41 onprojection 17 and draws the valve toward fitment 46 bringing sealingsurfaces 50 and 51 into contact with the surfaces of washer 54. Furtherlid threading of collar 42 on fitment 46 causes the annular rib 53 onfitment 46 to deform the malleable material of washer 54 into annulargroove 52 on projection 17 providing a high unit pressure in the area ofthe rib 53. In this manner, a gas-tight seal is insured. The angularposition of the valve body 13 relative to the refrigeration unit may beadjusted to accommodate space limitations or to cause the end having thefirst passageway to extend in a particular direction as desired. Thepositions through which the body may be moved extend 360".

In order to adjust the angular position of a valve relative to arefrigeration unit 45 which has been previously charged withrefrigerant, the collar 42 is loosened to a position in which leakage ofrefrigerant is prevented and at the same time angular adjustment of thevalve may be made.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FlGS. 6 and 7 whereinidentical numbers are used to identify the same parts whereverapplicable. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, fitment 60 is formed integralwith refrigeration unit 45 and the threads 48 are formed on the fitment60. Sealing surface 51 is formed with an annular groove 61 immediatelyadjacent but spaced from the opening therein in which a plastic ring 62of tetrafiuoroethylene (Teflon) or nylon is positioned. Sealing surfaceon fitment 17 is formed with a complementary rib 63 of lesser width thanthe Teflon ring 62 immediately adjacent but spaced from the openingtherein. When the collar 42 is tightened, the rib 63 presses against theplastic ring 62 and causes it to flow outwardly permitting the surfaces50, 51 to engage in a metal to metal contact. In this manner, a highunit pressure seal is provided between the rib 63 and plastic ring 62and in addition, a metal to metal engagement is provided between thesurfaces 50 and 51 which assists in locking the valve body in theselected position.

The arrangement is such that substantially normal finger tightening ofthe collar 42 is sufficient to prevent leakage of refrigerant and at thesame time permit relative angular movement of the valve relative to therefrigeration unit.

In order to adjust the angular position of a valve relative to arefrigeration unit which has been charged, the collar 42 is loosened onfitment until finger tight relationship is obtained of the rib 63 on theplastic ring 62. In this position, the rib 63 is in contact with plasticring 62, but not distorting the ring and an effective seal is pro videdbetween the fitments 17 and 60 such as to prevent leakage ofrefrigerant. At the same time, the plastic ring 62 permits angularadjustment of the valve relative to the fitment without loss ofrefrigerant. Moreover, the plastic ring serves to hold the valve in itsangular adjusted position while the collar 42 is being tightened by theuse of tools to lock the valve in its newly adjusted position. Plasticring 62 returns to its original shape when collar 42 is loosened so thatrepeated loosening and adjusting of the valve may be made without theneed for replacing the ring 62. Plastic ring 62 is preferably made ofTeflon because of its resistance to refrigerants such as Freon, oils andits high temperature resistance which is needed to withstand thetemperatures used in dehydrating refrigeration units, which temperaturesare on the order of 350 F. Nylon may also be used but is not asdesirable because it is harder, requiring a greater finger tightpressure to prevent leakage of refrigerant when the angular adjustmentis being made to a previously charged refrigeration unit.

It can thus be seen that one of the most important features of theinvention is that a gas tight connection can be maintained by fingertight pressure of the sealing sur faces, because of the high unitpressure seal, to permit the adjustment of the valve relative to therefrigeration unit to any angle desired at the time of installation.Furthermore, when a plastic sealing ring is used, the position of thevalve is more easily maintained in the desired angular relation to therefrigeration unit during the final tightening of the valve in position.

It will also be seen that I have provided a refrigeration system whereinthe shut-off valve can be adjusted angularly relative to therefrigeration unit as is required by space limitations or otherconsiderations such as the direction in which the tubing is to beprovided. This obviates the need for maintaining an inventory of a largenumber of different valves. In addition, an improved seal is provided toinsure a gas tight connection, thereby preventing the loss ofrefrigerant. The seal prevents the escape of refrigerant and at the sametime permits angular movement of the valve body relative to therefrigeration unit during assembly. Particularly where a plastic ring isused, the valve is retained in its selected angular position during thelocking of the valve in position. In addition, I have obtained theunexpected result in that, because of the ability of the plastic ringsuch as Teflon to return to its original shape, the same ring can beused repeatedly resulting in a lifetime seal, for all practicalpurposes.

I claim:

1. In a charged refrigeration system comprising a compressor unit havingmeans thereon defining an opening extending outwardly of said unit, saidcompressor unit being adapted to contain a refrigerant under pressure, avalve including a valve body, a chamber in said body, a projection onsaid valve body providing communication between said chamber and theexterior of said body, means defining an opening on said compressor unitincluding an annular sealing surface lying in a plane generally perpemdicular to the axis of the opening, said projection having acomplementary annular sealing surface lying in a plane generallyperpendicular to the axis of the passageway through said projection, anannular rib on one of said annular sealing surfaces closely adjacent butspaced radially from said opening, the radial width of said annular ribbeing a relatively narrow part of the radial width of said one annularsurface, the other said annular sealing surface being formed with acomplementary groove therein having a radial width greater than thewidth of said rib, a ring of deformable material positioned in andfilling said groove radially, and means for drawing and holding saidvalve against said compressor unit to bring said rib into high unitpressure engagement with the ring providing a gas tight seal by manualfinger force and permitting relative angular adjustment of said bodyrelative to said refrigeration unit by manual force without losingrefrigerant, said annular rib engaging said ring when the valve is infixed operating position on said compressor unit and causing said ringto flow so that the annular sealing surfaces are in engagement in theareas surrounding said groove to provide rigidity to said valve, saidmeans being independent of the angular position or" said body reiativeto said refrigeration unit, whereby said body may be angularlypositioned relative to said compressor unit in accordance with spacelimitations and requirements for the direction in which it is desired tohave the first passageway extend.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said annular rib is onthe sealing surface of said projection on said valve body and saidgroove is on the annular sealing surface of said compressor unit.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said ring is made of aplastic material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,452,811 Mueller Apr. 24, 1923 1,703,311 Litle Feb. 26, 1929 1,746,055Roberts Feb. 4, 1930

1. IN A CHARGED REFRIGERATION SYSTEM COMPRISING A COMPRESSOR UNIT HAVINGMEANS THEREON DEFINING AN OPENING EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID UNIT, SAIDCOMPRESSOR UNIT BEING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A REFRIGERANT UNDER PRESSURE, AVALVE INCLUDING A VALVE BODY, A CHAMBER IN SAID BODY, A PROJECTION ONSAID VALVE BODY PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHAMBER AND THEEXTERIOR OF SAID BODY, MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING ON SAID COMPRESSOR UNITINCLUDING AN ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE LYING IN A PLANE GENERALLYPERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE OPENING, SAID PROJECTION HAVING ACOMPLEMENTARY ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE LYING IN A PLANE GENERALLYPERPENDICUALR TO THE AXIS OF THE PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID PROJECTION, ANANNULAR RIB ON ONE OF SAID ANNULAR SEALING SURFACES CLOSELY ADJACENT BUTSPACED RADIALLY FROM SAID OPENING, THE RADIAL WIDTH OF SAID ANNULAR RIBBEING A RELATIVELY NARROW PART OF THE RADIAL WIDTH OF SAID ONE ANNULARSURFACE, THE OTHER SAID ANNULAR SEALING SURFCE BEING FORMED WITH ACOMPLEMENTARY GROOVE THEREIN HAVING A RADIAL WIDTH GREATER THAN THEWIDTH OF SAID RIB, A RING OF DEFORMABLE MATERIAL POSITIONED IN ANDFILLING SAID GROOVE RADIALLY, AND MEANS FOR DRAWING AND HOLDING SAIDVALVE AGAINST SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT TO BRING SAID RIB INTO HIGH UNITPRESSURE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RING PROVIDING A GAS TIGHT SEAL BY MANUALFINGER FORCE AND PERMITTING RELATIVE ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF SAID BODYRELATIVE TO SAID REFRIGERATION UNIT BY MANUAL FORCE WITHOUT LOSINGREFRIGERANT, SAID ANNULAR RIB ENGAGING SAID RING WHEN THE VALVE IS INFIXED OPERATING POSITION ON SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT AND CAUSING SAID RINGTO FLOW SO THAT THE ANNULAR SEALING SURFACES ARE IN ENGAGEMENT IN THEAREAS SURROUNDING SAID GROOVE TO PROVIDE RIGIDITY TO SAID VALVE, SAIDMEANS BEING INDEPENDENT OF THE ANUGLAR POSITION OF SAID BODY RELATIVE TOSAID REFRIGERATION UNIT, WHEREBY SAID BODY MAY BE ANGULARLY POSITIONEDRELATIVE TO SAID COMPRESSOR UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPACE LIMITATIONSAND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DIRECTION IN WHICH IT IS DESIRED TO HAVE THEFIRST PASSAGEWAY EXTEND.